FOOTBALL

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9160, 1 June 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL

BRITAIN v. OTAGO. DEFEAT, OF THE VISITORS. Per Press Association. Dunedin, May 30. Tlie match between the British team and Otago was played at Carisbrook to-day in the presence of about 15,000 spectators, the game resulting in the visitors being defeated by 9 points (two tries and a penalty goal) to 6 points (one try and a penalty goal). • In the forenoon the weather was all that could he desired, and indications pointed to delightful conditions for the contest. About 2 p.m., however, light rain set in and continued until a few minutes before the teams took the field, when rain ceased, (and a strong and bitterly cold wind prevailed, making matters very unpleasant for the spectators and rendering accurate passing almost out of the question. Otago won the toss and Paton kicked off. For the first few minutes play was in Otago’s 25, but the home forwards broke away and transferred operations past half-way. Vassall made a good effort and put Otago on the defensive. At Otago 25 the visitors essayed a passing rush, but the Ota g o tackling was sure, and Britain made no headway. A good kick and following up by Chapman threatened danger for Otago, but Kindley saved. Play then settled down in Otago’s 25. Vassallgot away nicely but was well collared. Immediately afterwards Otago were penalised for obstruction by Paton, and Dyke potted a fine goal from about the 25. Britain ... ... 3 Otago ... ... 0

A little later the British forwards assumed the mastery and a rush ended hy Archer scoring in a fairly good position. Dyke failed with the kick. Britain ... ... 6 Otago ... ... 0

Off-side play by Dyke gave the home team a free kick and play was transferred to the visitors’ end, and a similar award just afterward enabled Baton, whose line kicks were of great service to the home team, to send the ball out within a few yards of the British line. From another free kick Patou had a shot at goal, but the angle was top acute, a force down resulting. Otago maintained a strong attack and after a loose scramble McDonald got over the line, but the ball was taken back for infringement. From the ensuing scrum the Otago forwards took charge,', and Fitzpatrick crossed from a loose rush, Patou failing with the kick. Britain ... ... 6 Otago ... ... 3 The home team again attacked with vigour, but a clever mark by W. the visitors. Gibbs and O. Morgan were mainly” responsible for transferring play to Otago’s 25, but a penalty nullified the advantage for the time being.:; .Britain again became ever, and the forwards got dangerously near the Otago line before being stopped. Play surged between Otago’s 25 and half-way for a time, but a penalty against the visitors gave Otago the advantage, and Britain bad to force the play on the Otago side of half-way, at half-time. From the kick-off in the second spell, Dansey, with a dodgy run, cbaractistic of him, ran through the opposition to past half-way, where he was stopped. This formed the most conspicuous of the back play of the day. Otago sat up a waxm attack but the visitors’ kicking was good, aud frequently saved the situation. Tight work followed close to the British line, and Otago were appearing to advantage in the scrum and close work. Jones, failing to accept a pass, allowed Otago to break up the attack. The local forwards, headed by Patterson, swept down the field into the British 25, where Dyke, in attempting to stop a rush, bung too long to the ball and a free kick was awarded, from which Paton lauded a splendid goal about 11 minutes after starting. Britain ... ... 6 ' Otago .. ... 6 The visitors retaliated with a vigorous forward division attack, but Otago cleared nicely. From a line out Ivimey broke away, and almost struggled over the line with two or three British hanging on to him. Britain came away with a powerful rush, and invaded Otago’s 25, but Bennett saved. Otago effected a complete change hy hearing down into the British hut the attack was not equal to the defence. Otago still pressed and play was carried close to the British line. From a scrum the ball went out to Dwyer, who scored for Otago amidst great excitement. Paton failed with the kick. Otago ... ••• 9 Britain ... ... 6 Britain then infused renewed vigor into the play, but the Otago forwards proved too solid and frequently turned the defence into attack. On one occasion Britain looked troublesome, hut danger was over in a moment. A little later Vassall made a splendid opening hut faulty handling upset calculations. Warm pressure was maintained, but eventually Dyke was penalised for off-side play and this enabled Otago to clear. The visiting pack made two or three more efforts to beat through the defence. but the Otago pack carried play in dashing style into the visitors’ quarters. With the ball in touch at Britain’s 25, the close of the game arrived, leaving Otago victorious, the final scores being Otago ... 9 Britain ... ••• 6

The conditions were not in favour of a first-class exhibition, but nevertheless the display was, on the whole, disappointing. The game resolved itself principally into a battle between the forwards, the work of the backs consisting mainly of defence with a little passing at times. At the outset it looked as if the visitors were going ro make things fairlv lively, but when the Otago forwards warmed up to their work the prospects entirely changed. The British rearguard had the advantage of weight and they generally had the best of scrums, being able to push Otago about easily. In line play, also, the visitors had the advantage, but it was in loose dribbling rushes that Otago esclipsed -their opponents, On several occasions the home forwards broke away splendidly, and their following up was so good that they often collared the British backs before the latter could get a return in. The British forwards got away several times, too, but their attack was not so deadly, and they did not keep as close to the bail as Otago did.